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Flat Origami Sea Otter

A floating otter with a raised head, paws and tail. Follow the complete folding sequence, then add the optional drawn details for a flat ocean scene.

Preparation + 13 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin origami paper. Ruler and pencil for measured folds; optional pen for the face. No scissors or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat Origami Sea Otter: A floating otter with a raised head, paws and tail
A floating otter with a raised head, paws and tail

Follow along

Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of the sheet, not literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and its hinge.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of the sheet, not literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease the vertical center
  3. 2. Open the diamond
  4. 3. Crease the horizontal center
  5. 4. Open both creases
  6. 5. Mark the lower guide
  7. 6. Reopen the lower point
  8. 7. Raise the body panel
  9. 8. Fold the top behind
  10. 9. Raise the right tail
  11. 10. Raise the left head
  12. 11. Soften the head top
  13. 12. Round the nose behind
  14. 13. Finish the sea otter
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Prepare the diamond

    Place one corner upward, with the intended otter color facing down.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: Top and bottom points line up.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the vertical center

    STEP 1 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right point to the left point and crease.

    Layers: Fold the whole right half.

    Check: The opposite corners meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the diamond

    STEP 2 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Open the diamond

    Return the right half fully to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The vertical crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the horizontal center

    STEP 3 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Crease the horizontal center

    Bring the bottom point up to the top point.

    Layers: Move the complete lower half.

    Check: The side points stay fixed.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen both creases

    STEP 4 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Open both creases

    Unfold completely.

    Layers: Return the lower half.

    Check: Two diagonal creases meet at the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldMark the lower guide

    STEP 5 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Mark the lower guide

    Bring the bottom point to the center crossing and press.

    Layers: Move the lower corner only.

    Check: The tip touches the crossing.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReopen the lower point

    STEP 6 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Reopen the lower point

    Open this corner fully.

    Layers: Return the same corner.

    Check: A horizontal guide lies halfway between the center and bottom.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRaise the body panel

    STEP 7 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Raise the body panel

    Mark a horizontal line halfway between the lower guide and the center, 1.06 inches below the center. Fold the bottom point up on that line.

    Layers: Move the complete lower section.

    Check: The point ends 2.12 inches above the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the top behind

    STEP 8 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Fold the top behind

    Measure 1.59 inches above the original center. Fold only the rear upper point behind along a horizontal line through that mark.

    Layers: Leave the raised front body triangle still; move the original top corner away from you.

    Check: The front body point projects above the shortened back edge.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRaise the right tail

    STEP 9 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Raise the right tail

    On the lower horizontal edge, mark a point 0.64 inch right of center. Fold the right corner upward along the 45-degree line that rises to the right from this mark.

    Layers: Carry all layers on the outer side of the line.

    Check: The right tip rises to 2.55 inches above the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRaise the left head

    STEP 10 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Raise the left head

    Repeat the 45-degree fold on the left, starting 0.64 inch left of center on the lower edge.

    Layers: Carry every layer in the left corner.

    Check: The head and tail stand above the central pointed paws.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldSoften the head top

    STEP 11 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Soften the head top

    Fold the top 0.3 inch of the left head down, using a horizontal crease 0.3 inch below its tip.

    Layers: Move the small head tip only.

    Check: The head has a short level top.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the nose behind

    STEP 12 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Round the nose behind

    Fold the outer corner of the left head behind on a vertical line 2.7 inches left of center.

    Layers: Move all layers in the small left corner.

    Check: The otter has a blunt nose, pointed paws and raised tail.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFinish the sea otter

    STEP 13 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Finish the sea otter

    Draw a small eye and nose on the left head if you wish. Lay the otter flat as though floating on its back.

    Layers: Draw on the front only; no extra paper is added.

    Check: Head on the left, paws in the middle, tail on the right.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram copyright Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: Flat Origami Sea Otter (undated web diagram).

Complete reference diagram ↗

The reference diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. That credit does not establish a design-reuse license or traditional attribution. Source diagrams and text remain separately protected. These English instructions, material geometry, illustrations and PDF are original; no reference assets or code are included.

Adaptation: Follows all nine reference panels. Cross creases and paired folds are separate actions. The lower guide is one quarter of the diagonal above the bottom point; the permanent body fold is one quarter of the half-diagonal below center. The rear top corner folds behind without moving the raised front paws. Head and tail hinges are symmetric 45-degree lines. These measured positions replace approximate dotted lines in the source. Facial marks are optional ink, not added material.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility.